Communication and You An Introduction

Through lively, real-life examples Communication and You encourages you to connect to and measure concepts against your own personal experiences while also examining the influences of technology, ethics, and culture.

Dan O'Hair is dean of the University of Kentucky College of Communications and Information Studies. He is past Presidential Professor in the Department of Communication at the University of Oklahoma and past president of the National Communication Association.  He is coauthor or coeditor of fifteen communication texts and scholarly volumes and has published more than eighty research articles and chapters in dozens of communication, psychology, and health journals and books.  He is a frequent presenter at national and international communication conferences, is on the editorial boards of various journals, and has served on numerous committees and task forces for regional and national communication associations. Mary Wiemann is a Professor Emeritus in the Department of Communication at Santa Barbara City College.  A longtime educator of beginning college students, she contributes a strong teaching perspective to her books. Mary’s book chapters, journal articles, student manuals, instructor manuals, and online instructional materials all reflect her commitment to making effective communication real and accessible for students.  A recipient of awards for outstanding teaching, Mary is also a communication laboratory innovator and has directed classroom research projects in the community college setting. She is a frequent presenter at the National Communication Association convention, where she has held a number of offices in the Human Communication and Technology Division.

 

 

PART ONE
Basic Communication Processes 
chapter 1 Communication: Essential Human Behavior
We Must Communicate: The Functional Perspective 
How We Communicate 
Communicating Competently 
Modeling Communication 
The Study of Communication 
chapter 2 Perceiving the Self and Others 
Perception: Making Sense of Your World 
Perception in a Diverse World 
Cognition: Perceiving Ourselves 
Behavior: Managing Our Identities 
chapter 3Communication and Culture 
Understanding Culture 
Communication and Cultural Variations 
Understanding Group Affiliations 
Intercultural Communication Challenges 
Improving Intercultural Communication 
chapter 4Verbal Communication 
The Nature of Language 
The Functions of Language 
Problems with Language 
Language in Context 
chapter 5Nonverbal Communication 
The Nature of Nonverbal Communication 
Functions of Nonverbal Communication 
Nonverbal Communication Codes 
Influences on Nonverbal Communication 
chapter 6Listening 
How We Listen 
Why We Listen 
Listening Challenges 
Listening in Context 
PART TWO
Interpersonal Communication 
chapter 7 Developing and Maintaining Relationships 
Types of Interpersonal Relationships 
Why We Form Relationships 
Managing Relationship Dynamics 
Self-Disclosure and Interpersonal Relationships 
Stages of a Relationship 
chapter 8Managing Conflict in Relationships 
Understanding Conflict 
Conflict Triggers 
Factors Affecting Conflict 
Strategies for Managing Conflict 
Conflict Outcomes 
PART THREE
Group Communication 
chapter 9Communicating in Groups 
Understanding Groups 
Group Size and Communication 
Understanding Group Roles 
Additional Factors Affecting Group Communication 
chapter 10Leadership and Decision Making in Groups 
Understanding Group Leadership 
Culture and Group Leadership 
Decision Making in Groups 
Leadership in Meetings 
Evaluating Group Performance 
PART FOUR
Public Speaking 
chapter 11Preparing and Researching Presentations 
The Power of Public Speaking 
Clarifying the General Purpose of Your Speech 
Analyzing Your Audience 
Choosing Your Topic 
Researching the Topic 
Ethical Speaking: Taking Responsibility for Your Speech 
chapter 12Organizing, Writing, and Outlining Presentations 
Organizing Your Speech Points 
Using Language That Works 
Writing a Strong Introduction 
Writing a Strong Conclusion 
Outlining Your Speech 
chapter 13Delivering Presentations 
Understanding and Addressing Anxiety 
Methods of  Delivery 
Guidelines for Effective Delivery 
Effective Presentation Aids 
Practicing Your Speech 
chapter 14Informative Speaking 
The Goals of Informative Speaking 
Topics for Informative Presentations 
Approaches to Conveying Information 
Guidelines for Informative Speeches 
chapter 15Persuasive Speaking 
The Goals of Persuasive Speaking 
Developing a Persuasive Topic and Thesis 
Persuading Your Audience 
Strategies for Persuasive Speaking 
Organizing Patterns in Persuasive Speaking 
Appendix ACompetent Interviewing 
The Nature of Interviews 
Types of Interviews 
The Format of an Interview 
Understanding Roles and Responsibilities in Interviews 
The Job Interview 
Appendix BUnderstanding Mass and Mediated Communication
The Nature of Media
Understanding Media Messages
Effects of Mass Media
Converging Media Technologies
Becoming a More Mindful Media Consumer